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Thursday, 14 June 2012

Choosing a Fragrance 101 & my top picks for Winter

Winter has definitely arrived in Australia and just as you would change up your winter wardrobe you can also experiment with new fragrances for the colder months. In the summer time I like to choose a scent which is light and fruity, while in the Winter its nice to go for something which is spicy and rich. Before I go into my favourite winter fragrances there are a points and purchase tips I have about fragrances.

What is the difference between a Perfume and an Eau de toilette?

Put simply the main difference between a Perfume and an Eau de toilette is the concentration of the scent. Perfumes have a much higher concentration of oil (which contains the scent) while Eau de toilettes have a much higher alcohol content. The fragrance of the Perfume will last for about 10 hours on the skin, which is much longer than an Eau de toilette will, lasting for about 4-6 hours. I like to spray an Eau de toilette on my skin after showering as a body freshener, while I prefer to spray a perfume for an all day scent.

What are Perfume notes?

The notes within a perfume are the aromas that a perfume contains and the three different stages of scent evaporation. Essentially they are the three different stages of scents you will smell from a perfume; top notes, middle notes and base notes. When you first apply a perfume to your skin you will be able to smell the top notes, this is the first impression that you get from the perfume. However these notes will quickly evaporate and you will loose that scent. The middle notes are considered the main body of the fragrance. After about 30 minutes you will then be able to smell the base notes of the perfume. The middle and base notes will combine to give you the aroma that will stay on your skin for about 10 hours.

Does fragrance have an expiration date?

Fragrances generally do not have an expiration date. As fragrances age their aromas will change and mature, some for the better and some for the worse. However over time fragrances will loose the intensity of the scent that you may have been initially sold on. I experienced this with a perfume I bought on sale, the original Britney Spears "Fantasy". The scent in my bottle had lost its top notes and was quite different from the tester bottle in the store. That being said I bought the perfume because it was drastically reduced, which in theory should have been a warning that they were selling very old stock.

Try before you buy

You should never buy a fragrance online or from a store, without testing it first and deciding wether its for you. Its easy to be sold on a fragrance through persuasive advertising or celebrity endorsement. Even if your friend is wearing a fragrance that you like, you should always test it on your own skin before purchasing. This is because everyone has a unique body chemistry and the way in which fragrances work is by the fragrance aromas combining with your own chemistry. So essentially a fragrance will have a variating scent depending upon who is using it. You should always judge a fragrance on what aroma it gives approximately 4 hours after first applying it, as you want to purchase it on the lasting aroma the base and middle notes leave.

Fragrance storage

Lastly always make sure you store your fragrances away from heat and light, in a dry place.

Ok, so now onto fragrances for Winter! The fragrances I have picked work well for me, however as I explained earlier you may find they may or may not work for you. These fragrances have deep, rich, aromas, perfect to compliment you in the colder months.

1 ) VICTOR & ROLF FLOWERBOMB EXTREME

Flowerbomb Extreme by Victor & Rolf is the more oriental, smoother version of the original Flowerbomb. I found with this perfume it starts as a more softer scent but settles as a rich creamy aroma on the skin. Overall I feel it gives you a lasting sweet, floral scent. The Amber is definitely the most prominent note and its very long lasting, it stays on my skin for about 10- 12 hours. I would consider this a night time scent and I like to wear it when I'm going out.

TOP NOTES- Bergamot & Sambac Jasmine

MIDDLE NOTES- Osmanthus, White Flowers & Balms

BASE NOTES- Patchouli, Amber, Benzoin & Vanilla

DESIGN

Obviously as the name suggests the bottle is designed to replicate a grenade. I quite like the bottle, its quite compact and stores nicely.

PRICE

The lowest price I have been able to find on the net is from me2uperfume.com. The charge $92.95 for the 30ml EDP and $119.95 for the 50ml EDP.

2 ) TAYLOR SWIFT WONDERSTRUCK

When I first heard that Taylor Swift was putting her name to a perfume I thought it would be some over sweet, teen scent, however I was pleasantly surprised. I actually really like the lasting scent this perfume leaves on my skin. It smells delicious and has a deep fruity aroma with a floral hint. I prefer to wear this perfume in the day and it lasts about 10 hours on my skin.

TOP NOTES- Raspberry, Dewberry, Apple Blossom, Freesia & Green Tea

MIDDLE NOTES- Honeysuckle, Vanilla & Hibiscus

BASE NOTES- Amber, Musk, Sandalwood & Peach

DESIGN

The bottle design is fairly standard, rounded design. The purple bottle comes adorned with charms, reflective of Taylor's personality. As to what the three charms represent, I'm not entirely sure, but at a guess the bird, the star and the cage is some nod to being set free, reaching your dreams. etc ( the usual Taylor Swift deal )

PRICE

The lowest online price is from Perfumery.com with the 100ml EDP spray priced at $80. The 50ml EDP Spray is $64.

3 ) DOLCE & GABBANA ROSE THE ONE

Saving the best till last, Rose The One by D&G, this is probably one of my all time favourite scents. Theres not much I can say about this apart from the fact that it smells like your wearing a basket of roses with a hint of citrus. Its not a light floral scent, it has some depth to it, which is why I recommend if for Winter. I wear this all the time, day or night, I find its a really warm scent, so perfect for winter!

TOP NOTES- Blackcurrant, Pink Grapefruit & Mandarin

MIDDLE NOTES- Lily of the Valley, Rose, Litchi, Peony & Madonna Lily

BASE NOTES- Ambrette Seed, Sandalwood, Musk & Vanilla.

DESIGN

The bottle design could be considered quite mature and elegant. Its fairly simplistic and the minimalistic glass design seems to be balanced by the heavy perfume lid.

PRICE

This perfume is widely available across the net. You shouldn't pay anymore than $70 for the 75ml EDP.

So there you go! I hope this has enlightened you and given you some ideas. Remember try before you buy! Louise x